Should I borrow a lens for the wedding?

Hi all,

I know you must here the same questions again and again, but this is specific to my equipment and my friend's, so I hope you'll bear with me.

I'm going to my cousin's wedding at the end of the month. I'm sure that she's hired a professional photographer or two (seems like it will be a fancy wedding--at least a good deal fancier than mine was but I'm bringing along my camera, and if I could give them a good candid shot or two, I think it would be worth it. I'm not going to try to "cover" the wedding, but my aunt's been good to me, so that I'd like to be able to send her some decent shots afterwards.

My equipment:
20D
420ex
kit lens
50mm 1.8 II

My question is:

Is it worth it for me to hit up my friend at work to borrow his 17-40 f/4L or 70-200 f/4 L lenses? He would probably be ok with loaning them to me, but it would mean that I would have to worry about things a little more during the wedding/reception since I'd have $600 on the front of my camera instead of $70. If you think I'll get 80% of the same shots with the 50mm prime, then I'll probably just stick to that.

Any comments are appreciated.

One other question: is it worth it to make a foam bounce card for the flash? The ceremony is outside early evening and I assume high ceilings for the reception.

Thanks

Make sure you talk to the Pro(s) before you take any photos and make sure they're ok with you shooting and if they're fine with it make very sure you don't get in their way.

For candids, I would just take the 50 1.8 and shoot wide open, available light, high ISO if needed. Don't go flashing all over the place, you'll only get on the guests and pro's nerves.

Use the kit lens, it's not so bad as most people think, especially if you have a lens hood. maybe check with the pro but they should be used to guests with cameras, even DSLRs and people with L lenses. I'm waiting for the day a guest shows up with a 1 series, L lenses, and still takes worse photos than me with whatever I happen to have - 20D/30D.

For wedding outside in sun try ISO100, F12, flash on ETTL. For inside try ISO800, F5.6, 1/100th. I wouldn't shoot the 50mm F1.8 wide open because its focus sucks, actually I wouldn't shoot with it at all.

Tired of typing now, just go, enjoy it, and get some nice moments, shoot auto if you have to the camera generally does an ok job at that.

+ 1 to Tim's recommendations. My last wedding as a guest was shot mostly with the 100 mm macro. Anything will work for decent snapshots.

And yes, it's worth it to make a better bounce card. You'll definitely want it for the reception.

Good luck!

tim wrote in post #3049296
Use the kit lens, it's not so bad as most people think, especially if you have a lens hood.

Lens hood or not, that kit lens is worth exactly what you paid for it...about $50. I have some older EF zoom lenses that take better pics than that POS kit lens.

If you're worried about borrowing your friend's lenses, rent them from someplace (rentglass.com to name just one of may sources).

davidgr wrote in post #3052125
Lens hood or not, that kit lens is worth exactly what you paid for it...about $50. I have some older EF zoom lenses that take better pics than that POS kit lens.

Take a look at this thread for shots all taken with the kit lens. It's not a bad lens, I don't use it but it can give decent results.

Yep, some nice looking snaps...on my monitor. Take the same shot with another lens, make some 11x14's and you'll see a difference. Maybe not so bad on a 4x6 or 5x7, but you'd still probably be able to tell which lens was used.

davidgr wrote in post #3053639
Yep, some nice looking snaps...on my monitor. Take the same shot with another lens, make some 11x14's and you'll see a difference. Maybe not so bad on a 4x6 or 5x7, but you'd still probably be able to tell which lens was used.

So pretty much suitable for the original posters use. We have to remember to recommend gear that's fit for purpose, and 11x14" prints aren't likely given the requirements.

Great advice above but if you could borrow your friend's 70-200 I would - the extra zoom range makes for great candid shots.

Thanks everyone for the great advice. I don't think I'll be doing too many group shots so I'll probably stick with the 50mm for most things but I'll bring along the kit just in case.

For those times when I'm not using a flash, is it worth it to keep the 420 on for the AF assist (but not flashing by using the custom function)?

Thanks

TheShootist wrote in post #3061118
For those times when I'm not using a flash, is it worth it to keep the 420 on for the AF assist (but not flashing by using the custom function)?

Yes, especially inside. Outside flash should be on as fill.